3 Keys to Beating the Bengals

The NFL season is finally here, and the Browns have the arduous task of facing Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Here are three ways that the Browns can exploit the Bengals' weaknesses in week one.

There are a few weaknesses on this year's iteration of the Cincinnati Bengals that the Cleveland Browns can take advantage of on Sunday. 

The Browns have the opportunity to start off the 2023 season with a statement win against their in-state AFC North rivals, and it would go a long way in alleviating doubt and restoring the excitement of the Cleveland fanbase. They have the ability and potential to make a successful playoff run this year and being able to consistently beat divisional opponents is a major catalyst.

1. The passing game needs to start clicking early.  

The weakest part of this 2023 Bengals defense is the secondary. They are going to be rolling with three new, full-time starters in Cam Taylor-Britt, Dax Hill, and Nick Scott. There's a fairly large talent gap between this year's defensive back room compared to what they had in the 2022 season for Cincinnati. Though Bengals Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo is notorious for getting the most out of substandard secondaries, it usually takes some time for them to gel during the regular season.

Cleveland is in the advantageous position of not only being their week one opponent, but also having an incredibly dangerous set of pass catchers for Deshaun Watson to utilize. 

If Kevin Stefanski can get this passing game rolling early, it could end up being tough for Cincinnati's secondary to recover.

2. Shut down Irv Smith and Tyler Boyd.

Yes, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are the better and more threatening pass catchers in this Cincinnati offense but Smith and Boyd are Joe Burrow's go-to targets underneath. In order for the Browns to maximize the effectiveness of their revamped defensive line, they need to force Burrow to hold onto the ball for as long as possible each play. This will give the pass rushers more time to wreak havoc in the backfield.

In the Bengals' offense, Boyd and new tight end Irv Smith should be the main targets between the sticks. Boyd's the slot receiver for Cincinnati who's made a living catching short passes from Burrow on 10-12 yard in-breaking routes in the middle of the field. He's also the "hot" receiver for Burrow when he recognizes pre-snap pressure. Irv Smith is a new addition to the offense and he could be dangerous due to his athleticism when he's on the field. 

If Cleveland can successfully take away his "safety blankets" in the passing game, this defensive line is going to have Joe Burrow running for his life.

3. Attack the interior of Cincinnati's offensive line.

The center and both guard spots are undoubtedly the weak points of the Bengals' offensive line. Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, and Alex Cappa were not very good in 2022, and it was surprising to see that the team didn't make any upgrades there. The three of them had a cumulative average grade of 60.6 in 2022, according to PFF.

Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris, and Maurice Hurst have the opportunity to impact the game on Sunday as both run stoppers and pass rushers. There's also a good chance that Jim Schwartz dials up some unique interior blitzes involving linebackers as well. When he's been given the opportunity to do so, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has been effective blitzing through the "A" gaps.

There are a lot of different ways that Cleveland can attempt to gain a competitive advantage in this game, but these three options could end up being the most impactful in week one.